Impact of community based awareness education about dengue by assessing knowledge and preventive practices in rural population

Abstract

Dengue a major international public health concern is a vector-borne viral infection caused due to bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito. To reduce humanmosquito contact or eliminate vector population efforts should be made. The knowledge gained through this investigation would help rural population to take certain preventive and control measures against dengue fever. It would also be helpful to guide policy makers and health authorities to plan, design and initiate initiatives, various programs and policies regarding prevention of dengue. To find out the impact of community-based awareness education about dengue by assessing knowledge and preventive practices in rural population. A Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was done in rural population residing near the Datta Meghe Medical College, Wanadongri, Nagpur over a period of three months. Sample size of 166 participants; age more than 18 years residing in rural area were included in the study. Positive correlation in knowledge regarding dengue fever was found at post test among participants and information imparted; significant improvement was observed with respect to pretest taken. Questionnaire helped individuals to gain more knowledge regarding the disease and its prevention. This study concludes that the knowledge score of participants regarding dengue fever and invigilator increases at post test. Hence a better and healthy community can be achieved just by imparting simple doorstep knowledge.